Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania has been given the speech code rating Yellow. Yellow light colleges and universities are those institutions with at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application. Read more here.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives brought together a committee to examine allegations that Pennsylvania’s public universities were plagued by liberal ideology and indoctrination. David A. French, at the time president of FIRE, served as a legal adviser to the panel. FIRE released FIRE Report on the First Amendment Responsibilities of Pennsylvania State-Funded Colleges and Universities, explaining that Pennsylvania universities are bound to follow the strictures of the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions, notably to respect the expressive rights of students and faculty members, to protect religious liberty on campus, and to protect freedom of conscience on campus.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other harassing conduct of a sexual nature whether intentional or not.

Sexual harassment occurs when: … The unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive as to substantially limit or interfere with an individual’s work, educational performance, participation in extra-curricular activities, or equal access to the University’s resources and opportunities.

A violation of the University Harassment and Discrimination Policy and the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy (PRP 4790) constitutes a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The following statements outline this policy:

2. No person shall exhibit behavior that harms or threatens to harm another person or another person’s property. This includes but is not limited to harassing, intimidating or threatening conduct, physical harm, or conduct that results in property damage.

3. No person shall physically harm or exhibit threatening, intimidating, or harassing conduct toward a University employee related to the performance of his or her job.

4. No person shall physically harm or exhibit threatening, intimidating, or harassing conduct toward any party or witness involved in a judicial case or cause damage to his or her property with the intent of influencing outcomes or for retaliation.

5. No person shall engage in conduct that constitutes unlawful discrimination based on another person’s race, color, sex, religion, age or national origin.

Harassment –Verbal or physical conduct that is directed at an individual because of the individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive so as to have the effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment or educational environment, which substantially limits or interferes with an individual’s employment or educational performance or opportunities.